Hal G. P. Colebatch, whom I like to think of as a friend because we’ve exchanged a few e-mails, has a splendid defense of Christianity (and religion in general) in culture today at The American Spectator Online.
Category Archives: Religion
On not losing faith
I’m still thinking about the Charles Schulz biography I reviewed last night. There are so many similarities between my personality and Schulz’ (if you read the review, you know that’s not what you’d call bragging) that the story of his life was for me a vivid cautionary tale, and I’m trying not to waste it.
Schulz had (and I have) an emotional problem, which is a misfortune. But the condition provides a convenient excuse for shirking spiritual duty, which is a not a misfortune but a sin. (I think it’s a reasonable argument that people like us can’t be expected to do everything that more outgoing people do, but that’s not the same thing as being excused from service altogether.) Continue reading On not losing faith
(Long review) Schulz and Peanuts, by David Michaelis
I’ve told you already that I found this book utterly gripping and compelling. I might add that it also made me feel as if I were being beaten repeatedly with a rubber hose.
I shall explain in due course.
Warning: I will say some hard things about Charles Schulz in the course of this review. Please understand that this doesn’t spring from malice. In fact, it rises from a scary level of personal identification. As I shall explain, etc.
Back in those days I’ve been reminiscing about in my last couple posts (the early ’70s), when I was working with a Christian musical group and we were in the midst of the “Jesus Movement,” there was no celebrity Christian about whom we were more smug than Charles M. Schulz. Everybody loved “Sparky” Schulz. He was the most successful cartoonist, not only in the world, but in history. Art galleries displayed his original panels. He said things in his wonderful little strip that made us feel as if this guy really understood us, shared our fears and insecurities, and sympathized. Continue reading (Long review) Schulz and Peanuts, by David Michaelis
Rapture delayed
Tonight, for reasons I won’t bore you with, I used a snowblower for the first time in my life. (We got about three inches of snow today. I’m aware some of you got more than that. No need to tell me about it. I feel your pain, as you will no doubt feel mine when it’s our turn.) The experience was pretty much what I expected. It’s less work than my dad’s way, but it’s still work.
Here’s something from my new publisher’s website that impressed me. I’m doubtless motivated to apple-polish a bit, but I’m pretty sure I honestly think it’s exceptionally good. It’s an article arguing that one major reason for the decline in Christian influence in American has been the widespread acceptance of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture interpretation of Revelation. The author argues that holding to this idea (that the whole world is about to slide into war, famine, devastation and tyranny, but that Christians are going to be evacuated before things get bad) has prevented us from engaging the culture. Continue reading Rapture delayed
What We Know About Ourselves
For we always seem to ourselves righteous and upright and wise and holy — this pride is innate in all of us — unless by clear proofs we stand convinced of our own unrighteousness, foulness, folly, and impurity (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 37)
From a new blog of Puritan Quotations
Abiding in His Word
Contest for Conference and Sermon Library
This week, desiringGod.org is giving away registrations to their pastors conference, a Scholar’s Library from Logos, and 100 John Piper Logos Sermon Manuscript Libraries. Respond to the blog post to enter the contest.
Read Calvin’s Institutes by Feed or Email
“What would John Calvin do?” you asked yourself no doubt over New Year’s Day. What he do in my place today with so much to watch on TV and such things? Why, of course, he would reread his Institutes over the year, having written a program to deliver them to his inbox or RSS reader (maybe Zwingli would have written the program for him). And you can do the same. Read Calvin’s great work of theology, the one that gave biblical doctrine to the people directly, online this year through Reformation21.org. (via The Cruciform Life)
Now that I’ve written this and it’s gone to press, wasting tons of paper and ink, I see that I’m wrong. The Institutes themselves are not going to anyone’s inbox. Only blog posts on them will be. The source material must be obtained elsewhere, such as this spot or over here or online here.
“The Shadow Proves the Sunshine”
Mike S. Adams writes a powerful and paradoxical column today over at Town Hall, on the problem of evil.
Another conversion story: Orson Bean
Sometimes I forget, but God is still at work in the world.
Over at Power Line, they’ve posted Orson Bean’s account of how he came to faith.